DLTK's Crafts for KidsThe Creation of the Teacher

The Good Lord was creating teachers. It was His sixth day of
'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility for teachers
would touch the lives of so many impressionable young children. An angel
appeared to Him and said, "You are taking a long time to figure this one
out."

"Yes," said the Lord, " but have you read the
specs on this order?"

TEACHER:

…must stand above all students, yet be on their level
... must be able to do 180 things not connected with the subject being taught
... must run on coffee and leftovers,
... must communicate vital knowledge to all students daily and be right most of
the time
... must have more time for others than for herself/himself
... must have a smile that can endure through pay cuts, problematic children,
and worried parents
... must go on teaching when parents question every move and others are not
supportive
... must have 6 pair of hands.

"Six pair of hands, " said the angel, "that's
impossible"
"Well, " said the Lord, " it is not the hands that are the
problem. It is the three pairs of eyes that are presenting the most
difficulty!"

The angel looked incredulous, " Three pairs of eyes...on a
standard model?"

The Lord nodded His head, " One pair can see a student for
what he is and not what others have labeled him as. Another pair of eyes is in
the back of the teacher's head to see what should not be seen, but what must be
known. The eyes in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out'
in order to reflect, " I understand and I still believe in you", without
so much as saying a word to the child."

"Lord, " said the angel, " this is a very large
project and I think you should work on it tomorrow".

"I can't," said the Lord, " for I have come very
close to creating something much like Myself. I have one that comes to work when
he/she is sick.....teaches a class of children that do not want to learn....has
a special place in his/her heart for children who are not his/her
own.....understands the struggles of those who have difficulty....never takes
the students for granted..."

The angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating.
"It is too soft-hearted, " said the angel.

"Yes," said the Lord, " but also tough, You can
not imagine what this teacher can endure or do, if necessary".

"Can this teacher think?" asked the angel.

"Not only think," said the Lord,. "but reason and
compromise."

The angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran
his finger over the teacher's cheek.

"Well, Lord, " said the angel, your job looks fine but
there is a leak. I told you that you were putting too much into this model.
You can not imagine the stress that will be placed upon the teacher."

The Lord moved in closer and lifted the drop of moisture from
the teacher's cheek. It shone and glistened in the light.

"It is not a leak," He said, "It is a tear."

"A tear? What is that?" asked the angel, "What is
a tear for?"

The Lord replied with great thought, " It is for the joy
and pride of seeing a child accomplish even the smallest task. It is for the
loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in and it is for compassion
for the feelings of their parents. It comes from the pain of not being able to
reach some children and the disappointment those children feel in themselves. It
comes often when a teacher has been with a class for a year and must say
good-bye to those students and get ready to welcome a new class."

"My, " said the angel, " The tear thing is a
great idea...You are a genius!!"
The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."